Category Archives: Food Pathogen

Norway – Dried fruit mix suspected as cause of Norway’s ongoing Salmonella outbreak

Food Safety News

One brand of dry exotic fruit mix has been found to be linked to a growing Salmonella Agbeni outbreak in Norway.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Folkehelseinstituttet) reported there are 21 confirmed and nine possible cases in an update from the 11 confirmed and 12 suspected infections this past week.

The agency is investigating with local authorities, the Veterinary Institute, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) to confirm the suspected link. The public health officials report it is too early to conclude the fruit mix is the source of infection.

However, several people who became ill reported eating the fruit mix. Product samples have been sent for analysis but results will not be available until next week.

 

RASFF Alerts – Listeria monocytogenes – Frozen Smoked Salmon – Chilled Cod Fillets

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RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (in 5 out 5 samples, < 10 CFU/g) in frozen smoked salmon from Estonia in Italy

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (260 CFU/g) in chilled cod fillets (Gadus morhua) from Denmark in France

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Outbreak caused by and Salmonella (suspicion /25g) in dried fruits and coconut mix from Italy

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RASFF – foodborne outbreak caused by and Salmonella (suspicion /25g) in dried fruits and coconut mix from Italy in Norway

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Beef Trimmings – Minced Meat Skewer – Chilled Chicken – Salted Chicken – Sesame Seeds – Black Pepper – White Sesame Seeds – Live Mussels – Peppered Turkey Breast -Turkey Meat Preparation – Chicken Thighs – Chilled Mince Meat –

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RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in beef trimmings from the Netherlands in Sweden

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen minced meat skewer from Germany in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled chicken from Slovakia, processed in Poland in Poland

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in in frozen salted chicken half breasts from Brazil in the UK

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Montevideo (present /25g) in white sesame seeds from India in Croatia

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in live mussels from the Netherlands in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen peppered turkey breast from Chile in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Agona (presence /25g) in frozen turkey meat preparation from Chile in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (in 2 out of 5 samples /25g) in chilled chicken thighs from Poland in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in chilled minced meat from the Netherlands, packaged in Denmark in Finland

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (presence in 1 out of 5 samples /250g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (presence in 2 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (presence in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in whitish sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Senftenberg (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Morehead (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Glostrup (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella (presence in 2 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (presence in 2 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

Research – Antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from retail chilled chicken in the UK

FSA

 

The development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health concern worldwide. It is a complex issue driven by a variety of interconnected factors enabling microorganisms to withstand antimicrobial treatments to which they were once susceptible. The use of antibiotics is important in treating infections and preventing disease from arising in both animals and humans. However, the overuse and/or misuse of antibiotics in both animal husbandry and healthcare settings has been linked to the emergence and spread of microorganisms which are resistant to them, rendering treatment ineffective and posing a risk to public health.
The FSA is responsible for food safety. It assesses whether current agricultural practices may have an effect on public health via the food chain and works to affect change where this is considered to be the case. The transmission of AMR microorganisms through the food chain is thought to be one of the routes by which people are exposed to AMR bacteria. However, there is uncertainty around the contribution food makes to the problem of AMR in human infections. This report forms part of the project: A Microbiological Survey of Campylobacter Contamination in Fresh Whole UK Produced Chilled Chickens at Retail Sale (2015-2018) and presents AMR data for a subset of those Campylobacter isolates collected as part of this survey. There is a continued need to monitor the prevalence and types of AMR bacteria in retail chicken and other
foods to assess the risk to public health and also to inform a baseline to monitor future progress in reducing AMR in the food chain.

South Africa – One Year Ago – Tiger Brands polony linked to South Africa Listeria outbreak

Food Safety News

Food Safety News Article on the outbreak.

 

USA – Gravel Ridge Farms Egg Salmonella Outbreak Details in FDA Warning Letter

Food Poisoning Bulletin Salmonella Eggs Food Poisoning Food Safety

The Gravel Ridge Farms shell egg Salmonella outbreak sickened 45 people in 12 states last year. The FDA sent the owners of that facility a warning letter on February 12, 2019, that gives us more information about the issues at the farm. Gravel Ridge Farms recalled more than 600,000 shell eggs in response to this outbreak.

Research – Listeria monocytogenes Associated with Pasteurised Chocolate Milk, Ontario, Canada 2015- 2016

CDC Listeria cdc

n an investigation of a listeriosis outbreak in Ontario, Canada, during November 2015–June 2016, pasteurised chocolate milk was identified as the source. Because listeriosis outbreaks associated with pasteurised milk are rare in North America, these findings highlight that dairy products can be contaminated after pasteurisation.

Listeria monocytogenes is a formidable pathogen acquired primarily through contaminated food. Invasive listeriosis is a reportable disease in Ontario, Canada; ≈50 case-patients (0.4 cases/100,000 persons) have been reported annually since 2005 (1). Recent outbreaks of listeriosis in North America have been associated with delicatessen meats, soft cheeses, raw produce, and unpasteurised dairy products (2–4). However, listeriosis outbreaks linked to pasteurised fluid milk are rare.

A study in the United States reviewed 83 fluid milk–associated disease outbreaks during 1990–2006; however, only 1 outbreak was attributed to L. monocytogenes (5). We report an outbreak of listeriosis associated with pasteurised chocolate milk in Ontario, Canada.

Australia -Did health-types get it wrong or a Canberra court: Ricardo’s Café cleared of Salmonella charges

Barf Blog

The owner of a popular Canberra cafe has had charges against him dropped, relating to a salmonella outbreak that saw more than 100 people fall ill in 2017, and has also escaped conviction on an unrelated charge.

The owner of Ricardo’s, Rick DeMarco, 32, was cleared of the most serious charges spanning from an investigation in February 2017, which began after customers complained of food poisoning on social media.

The restaurant in Jamison was immediately closed after the reports and, in a statement at the time, Mr DeMarco admitted salmonella was found on a used dishcloth and tea towel, but nothing was found in any food or on any cafe equipment.

USA -Sunstone Organics Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Select Kratom Products Due to Potential Contamination by Salmonella

FDA

Sunstone Organics is voluntarily recalling two lots of Sunstone Organics Kratom. These two lots include Sunstone Organics White Vein Kratom Lot 119 and Sunstone Organics Maeng Da Kratom Lot 124A in both capsules and powder form and in all sizes. The products have been found to potentially be contaminated with salmonella.

Risk Statement: The product potentially could result in contracting salmonella. Symptoms of salmonella can include illness, vomiting, and some cases even death. This risk is higher for users a compromised or weak immune system, including elderly and young children. Sunstone Organics has not received any reports of adverse events to date related to this recall.

The product is used as a tea or supplement and is packaged in kraft stand-up pouches in both capsule form and powder form, in 3 different size bags, for a total of 12 products. The affected Sunstone Organics Kratom lots include the following lot numbers: Sunstone Organics White Vein Lot 119 and Sunstone Organics Maeng Da Lot 124A in Powder form and package sizes 25 grams, 50 grams, and 100 grams, and in capsule form in sizes 20 count, 60 count, and 150 count.